Luke Edwards has dropped a worrying claim involving Newcastle United and the chances of late transfer business.

The Lowdown: Low-budget deals

The St. James’ Park faithful have been linked with a number of low-budget deals involving players such as Hamza Choudhury, Mouctar Diakhaby and Lee Kang-In.

However, with only a few days left until the summer window ends, they need to seriously get a move on if anyone else is planned to arrive in the North East.

The Latest: Edwards on transfer

Writing in his official Twitter page, Edwards has claimed that now ‘there is a growing possibility’ that the Tyneside club will not add any more players to the squad before the deadline hits.

This is because the Magpies are saying that ‘there isn’t money to do it’, even on loan, meaning that they may need to sell players first.

The Verdict: Worrying

It is certainly worrying to hear for the Toon Army that they may not be able to bring anyone else in before the deadline.

Joe Willock has been the only player that has been brought in on a permanent deal so far from Arsenal, and he was in the squad last season anyway, albeit on loan.

Nonetheless, serious questions will need to be asked of the board and Mike Ashley in particular that Steve Bruce is not been given more money to spend in this window.

In other news, find out whose display against Southampton was criticised here!

Intikhab Alam was only offered the job as Pakistan coach after Javed Miandad turned down an offer of a fourth stint in the position. Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, said Miandad had been Pakistan’s first choice to replace Geoff Lawson, who was sacked as the

Cricinfo staff27-Oct-2008
Pakistan wanted Javed Miandad to take the reins of the team again © Getty Images
Intikhab Alam was only offered the job as Pakistan coach after Javed Miandad turned down an offer of a fourth stint in the position. Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, said Miandad had been Pakistan’s first choice to replace Geoff Lawson, who was sacked as the coach on Friday.”Intikhab was our second choice after we first went for Javd Miandad,” Butt told . “But it was very good of Javed to tell us that he was not interested in the position and that he would rather help us in other ways in an advisory capacity.”Intikhab will first take charge of the team in Abu Dhabi but I hope that he will remain in the post for two years but this needs to be cleared by the board first. I know that Intikhab has an excellent rapport with the players and I am keen for him to take Pakistan cricket back to where it belongs, and to give us the success we should be having.”Miandad most recently held the coaching role from 2003 to 2004, when he was eventually replaced by Bob Woolmer. He had also been coach in 1998-99 and 2000-01. Intikhab has also had a previous spell as the team’s coach, from 1999 to 2000.

Beau Casson has not given up hope of adding to his one Test cap despite being overlooked for Cameron White as the late spin call-up for Australia’s squad in India

Cricinfo staff06-Oct-2008
Beau Casson collected three wickets in his Test debut but he will have to wait for another chance at the top level © Getty Images
Beau Casson has not given up hope of adding to his one Test cap despite being overlooked for Cameron White as the late spin call-up for Australia’s squad in India. Casson made his debut in the West Indies but the selectors preferred Bryce McGain, Jason Krejza and White for the India trip.”You always want to be the No. 1 whatever you do, whether it’s bowling, batting or fielding,” Casson told the . “I have still got a hell of a lot of work to get there, and I’m still very optimistic to get there. Hopefully I can start sending the ball down well and add to my one Test, which I thoroughly enjoyed.”Casson, a left-arm wrist-spinner, picked up three wickets in the Test in Barbados and, unlike McGain and Krejza, holds a Cricket Australia contract. However, the selectors were keen to have a right-arm legspinner and an offspinner in India, so while White joins the squad in Bangalore as a replacement for the injured McGain, Casson will be playing Sheffield Shield cricket against Western Australia in Perth.”I would love to be in India but it wasn’t meant to be,” he said. “[The selectors] have decided to go with a combination they think will be successful over there.”The decision to add White to the squad was unexpected as he has developed into a batting allrounder whose legspin is used mostly as a backup for Victoria. He bowled only 84 overs during the last Pura Cup season and collected six wickets, although the selectors said they were impressed by his recent one-day form with Australia A in India, where he was the second leading wicket-taker in the tri-series.Michael Hussey said White would be a strong addition to the squad. “In previous years he was probably more of a batsman who could help out with the ball,” Hussey said.”But watching him work out in Darwin against Bangladesh and seeing some of the results against India A in India, he seems like he’s really improved his bowling and is getting a lot more confidence with it. That’s got to be a good sign for our team.”However, the former Test legspinner and spin coach Terry Jenner was struggling to understand why Casson had been ignored. He said White for McGain, who was sent home due to a lingering shoulder problem, was not a like-for-like swap.”Bryce McGain wasn’t going to bowl medium-pace leggies,” Jenner said in the . “I am at a bit of a loss because I go back to what his mentor David Hookes always said, that Cameron was only ever going to play for Australia as a batsman who could bowl a few overs. I don’t think much has changed since then, even though he tries his heart out.”

Left-arm spinner Bipul Sharma was the eighth bowler used by Chandigarh Lions and his spell of 4 for 8 was crucial in dismissing Royal Bengal Tigers for 120, a target which Chandigarh overhauled with six wickets in hand in Hyderabad. Bengal’s openers had added 44 runs in quick time before Deep Dasgupta fell. The innings went downhill thereafter as wickets fell at regular intervals. Bipul ran through the middle and lower order, taking four wickets in three overs. Chandigarh opener Chetan Sharma scored 51 off 42 balls to rule out the possibility of Bengal bouncing back. Bipul remained unbeaten on 11 off six balls when the winning runs were scored in the final over.Chennai Superstars’ openers Ganapathi Vignesh and Hemanth Kumar added 92 for the first wicket against Delhi Giants, a partnership that laid the foundation for their team’s 24-run victory in Hyderabad. Vignesh scored 49 and Kumar made 80 and by the time the latter was dismissed, Chennai had reached 151 in the 18th over. They lost four wickets cheaply as the remaining batsmen tried to accelerate and settled for a total of 167 for 7. TP Sudhindra was Delhi’s best bowler, taking 4 for 35 in four overs. Delhi’s openers struggled against Chennai’s new-ball attack of Rajamani Jesuraj and Tamil Kumaran, and they slipped to 50 for 5 in the 11th over. Syed Mohammad struck two more quick blows to ensure there was no fightback even though Abid Nabi smashed 41 off 15 balls with three sixes. Delhi finished on 143 for 8 after 20 overs.

After picking up one point from a possible six from their opening two Premier League games of the new campaign, Crystal Palace head to Vicarage Road this evening to take on Watford in the Carabao Cup.

The Eagles were held to a goalless draw by newly-promoted Brentford last time out, a performance which offered a marked improvement on their opening-day defeat at the hands of Chelsea.

However, Patrick Vieira’s men have failed to score in their 180 minutes of top-flight action so far this season, something that will be a great concern for the new manager.

Vieira has openly admitted he’s looking to bolster his options in the final third of the pitch following the departures of Andros Townsend and Michy Batshuayi this summer, leading to several stars being linked with a move to the capital club.

But part of the solution could already be within south London. French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta arrived at Palace last January from Bundesliga outfit Mainz with a sizeable reputation following his impressive exploits at the MEWA Arena.

He bagged 27 goals and provided five assists in 71 appearances for Die Nullfünfer, earning several plaudits in the process.

“For a player with such impressive athletic potential, Jean-Philippe has a rare ability to get in behind opposition defences and beat players one-on-one,” summarised France U21 coach Sylvain Ripoll (as relayed by Bundesliga.com), who called Mateta up for the first time in October 2018. “And there’s still a lot of room for improvement.”

The 24-year-old struggled to break into the starting XI under former Eagles boss Roy Hodgson, though, scoring just one goal in his seven outings during the final months of the experienced tactician’s reign.

Mateta would have been hoping for a fresh start under Vieira then, and his compatriot selected him in his first competitive starting lineup at Stamford Bridge just over a week ago.

Nevertheless, Mateta lasted just 57 minutes before being substituted and failed to come off the bench against Brentford, despite Palace struggling to create chances as they went in search of a winning goal.

Therefore, Vieira must unleash the £11.7m-rated gem in this evening’s cup encounter. Away from the spotlight of the Premier League, the pacey frontman could thrive and showcase his potential to be the striker Palace have craved over the last few years.

Adding a proven goalscorer to the club’s ranks is a priority for Vieira, but if he entrusts Mateta tonight, then he may discover one already at his disposal and if the striker can grab a goal, it will do his confidence the world of good.

And, in other news…David Ornstein drops exciting Palace transfer update that’ll leave fans delighted

Celtic’s swoop for VVV-Venlo striker Georgios Giakoumakis is in doubt, according to a report from Inside Futbol.

The Lowdown: Fee agreed?

Duncan Castles was the man who shared the initial links to Giakoumakis earlier in the week.

The transfer expert added more details on the 26-year-old on Thursday, claiming a fee has been struck between Celtic and VVV-Venlo for his services.

However, even though a move is seemingly heading in the right direction, one report isn’t so sure a transfer is as straightforward as it appears.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-12/” title=”Celtic updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: Doubts shared

Inside Futbol shared a report regarding Celtic’s move for the Greece international on Thursday evening.

They claimed that a transfer to Parkhead is currently rated at less than 50 per cent likelihood, with negotiations not running smoothly.

The coming days will be crucial over any deal going through, with the report adding that Bundesliga side Werder Bremen are also keen.

The Verdict: Not ideal

It looked as if Dominic McKay’s attempts over a move for Giakoumakis were gathering real pace, so this update comes as a shock.

Even though Celtic weren’t thought to be after a new centre-forward at the beginning of the month, it now seems as if they want to bring in Giakoumakis.

If they fail in their attempts to land the forward who Ange Postecoglou personally called, it may have a knock-on effect with Odsonne Edouard.

Should a new striker not come in, the Hoops could be reluctant to part ways with Edouard, which could see him leave for nothing next summer and therefore harm Celtic in the long-term.

In other news: ‘I’m told’ – Anthony Joseph drops Celtic update on McKay’s fresh pursuit of ‘very special’ ace. 

It was an extremely busy transfer window for many Premier League clubs, but Liverpool were largely absent from the off-field entertainment, much to the annoyance of some of their supporters.

What’s the story?

The likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United all spent astronomical fees on top-class talent over the summer, while the Reds watched Ibrahima Konate replace a raft of fringe players at Anfield.

Many expected Gini Wijnaldum’s exit to result in an exciting new acquisition gracing the 19-time English champions throughout 2021/22, yet an external successor failed to materialise despite several star names being linked with a move to Merseyside.

And now, Goal’s Liverpool correspondent Neil Jones has shed some light on the club’s failed attempted to replace the Dutch international, with one of Konate’s former teammates reportedly targeted.

“It has been reported that a move for another Leipzig man, Marcel Sabitzer, was explored, but the Austrian ended up joining Bayern Munich late in the window,” his report read.

Jurgen Klopp will be fuming

After finishing in an underwhelming third place in the top-flight standings last term, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will be hoping to guide his charges back to the Premier League summit this time around.

Seven points from a possible nine has seen the Merseyside outfit start the new campaign in solid fashion, but the German tactician may be concerned about his squad’s lack of strength in depth as the season progresses.

The likes of Xherdan Shaqiri and Wijnaldum weren’t replaced, while a below-par duo of Divock Origi and Neco Williams remain the backups to key players in key positions.

And Klopp’s disappointment may be further compounded by the fact that the club’s hierarchy were unable to attract an affordable, ready-made replacement in the centre of the park.

Sabitzer has established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s top midfielders in recent years, scoring 52 goals and providing 42 assists in 229 appearances for Leipzig, and is fully acquainted with the pressing style favoured by Klopp after working under Julian Nagelsmann at the Red Bull Arena.

With his previous contract set to expire next summer, Bayern were able to snap up the Austria international for just €16 million (£13.7m), a fee within even Liverpool’s limited financial reach.

Therefore, Klopp is likely to be left fuming after missing out on the versatile 27-year-old, and he’ll be hoping that Liverpool’s lack of activity in the market won’t cost his side as the campaign progresses.

And, in other news…Paul Joyce drops Liverpool injury news that will leave Reds fans delighted

Glamorgan have appointed Jamie Dalrymple as their new captain, succeeding David Hemp who was released at the end of the summer.”It is a great honour to be given the opportunity to captain a club with enormous enthusiasm and potential and such passionate supporters,” Dalrymple said. He joined Glamorgan from Middlesex at the start of 2008, signing a three-year deal, and led the side twice during the summer.”Jamie was signed to Glamorgan due to his experience and strong character which are both key qualities for a captain,” Matthew Maynard, Glamorgan’s cricket manager, said. “Having given Jamie the opportunity to lead the team in Southend during the season, it became overwhelmingly clear that he was the obvious choice for captain should Hemp not continue at the club.””I am absolutely delighted that Jamie has taken up the opportunity to captain the team,” Paul Russell, Glamorgan’s chairman, said. “Jamie is a great asset to Glamorgan and personally I am hugely optimistic about the experience and leadership qualities he will bring to us.”

Crystal Palace have opened talks to sign Watford midfielder Will Hughes after he turned down the chance to sign a new contract at Vicarage Road, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Playing a regular part in the Hornets’ successful promotion bid in 2020/21, the 26-year-old registered two goals in 31 appearances across the campaign [Transfermarkt], but he could now be set for a move to south London after being frozen out under Xisco Munoz.

After knocking back a new deal with his current employers, Hughes has now opened talks with the Eagles over a move to Selhurst Park [Daily Mail].

He has been training with the under-23 side at Watford in recent weeks, prompting Palace manager Patrick Vieira to try and swoop for the Weybridge native, who can perform in central midfield, attacking midfield or on either flank.

A BBC profile on him in previous years noted his “trickery and the attacking flair” and also made reference to reported interest from Barcelona at the time, indicating the raw talent that the 26-year-old possesses.

In light of this news, plenty of Crystal Palace fans took to social media to express their opinions on the situation.

Crystal Palace fans react

Replying to popular Crystal Palace fan outlet PALACE XTRA on Twitter, here is what some fans had to say about the club’s reported talks over Hughes:

“I’d be happy as a start with Hughes coming in! We need some bite and tenacity in the middle of the park!!”

Credit: @stephenpengi69″Hughes, Amad/Nelson & Nketiah/Dike and I’m happy”Credit: @ReeceJMT”He takes the place of James McCarthy.”Credit: @oliasofcpfc”We desperately need a winger”Credit: @BRL__18″This to me is a player we are crying out for. I’m all for this signing, if we can get him.”Credit: @EaglesPerchCPFC”Is he any good? Will he be an upgraded on what we have? Where is his best position?”Credit: @HalesKeithhalesIn other news, many Crystal Palace fans react to links with a £37m man. Read all about it here.

تحدث أحمد رمضان بيكهام لاعب سموحة عن أسباب رحيله من الأهلي، والفوز الذي حققه فريقه على المارد الأحمر في مباراة الدوري مساء الأربعاء.

وكان سموحة قد حقق فوزًا على الأهلي بثلاثية مقابل هدفين في مباراة الجولة 23 من عمر الدوري المصري الممتاز.

فيديو | الأهلي يتفنن في إهدار الفرص ويسقط بثلاثية أمام سموحة بالدوري

وقال بيكهام في تصريحات تلفزيونية لفضائية “الشمس” عبر برنامج “البلدوزر”: “خرجت من النادي الأهلي للمشاركة أساسيًا واللعب في مركزي الأصلي المدافع، للعودة مرة أخرى إلى بيتي”.

وأضاف: “لاعبو فريق سموحة قاموا باستغلال إرهاق لاعبي الأهلى والفوز بالمباراة، حيث لا توجد راحة للاعبين منذ نهاية مباراة بيراميدز”.

وأتم: “لم أحصل على فرصة كاملة مع الأهلي الموسم الماضي”.

واختتم: “تراجع مستواي مع الأهلى بسبب تغيير مركز اللعب، أنا أجيد اللعب في مركز المساك وليس الجناح”.